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Scholar Alumni, Western
Golf Association members
and other assorted interested
parties to give a brief history
of themselves and answer
questions explaining why they
were worthy of a full-ride to
college.
The resumes and backgrounds
of these young people were
impressive to say the least.
Most maintained high school
academic scores well over
3.2, while participating in a
long list of extra-curricular
activities, as well as,
involvement in local church
or other charitable work,
outside of the classroom.
This is a very big day for
these young people and
their families, the nerves,
as well as emotions, are
evident. Needless to say with
young people of such high
character and standards, they
impressed the committee
and each was selected to
receive over $80,000 in
college scholarships to attend
either Ohio State or Miami
University.
The
Evans
Scholarship
program has witnessed a
very successful past, but they
are not about to sit on their
laurels. The Western Golf
Association has a grand plan
for the future, which involves
having
1,000
students
enrolled in colleges around
the United States by the year
2020.
John Kaczkowski, the president
and CEO of the WGA was
quoted,
“The annual cost of providing
tuition and housing for our
students is over $15 million
annually. That cost is growing
each year and the WGA is
constantly exploring new
avenues to grow our funds to
reach more worthy caddies
from all parts of the country.”
If you ask any caddie, they
will be quick to tell you they
learned to interact with adults
at a very young age. They
also learn that hard work and
providing the best service
earns bigger tips at the end of
the round.
Through interaction with
club members, they can see
what it takes to excel in the
business world, once they
have to fend for themselves.
Caddies learn a great deal
about life while toting a bag
full of sticks, plus the Evans
Scholars program rewards
deserving caddies and helps
them achieve success by
assisting with college costs
for students, who might not
otherwise be able to attend
college.
It is unfortunate that many
clubs have been forced to
enact a more lucrative golf
cart business to increase
revenues for struggling golf
clubs. A club must make a
financial commitment to keep
a caddie program in place
and many caddie programs
have been lost over the years.
Hopefully the benefits of
providing a caddie program
at golf clubs across the nation
will become more evident
and young people will have
the opportunity to learn life
lessons looping for a chance
to earn a college education.
Chick Evans never competed
professionally, but he has left
a legacy that ranks among the
greats of the game.
NWO Golf Links